See note, p. 286, of
my edition of Odoric. - H.C.]
NOTE 7. - The times assigned in this chapter as we have given them, after
the G. Text, appear very short; but I have followed that text because it
is perfectly consistent and clear. Starting from the last city of Kinsay
government, the traveller goes six days south-east; three out of those
six days bring him to Kelinfu; he goes on the other three days and at the
15th mile of the 3rd day reaches Unken; 15 miles further bring him to
Fuju. This is interesting as showing that Polo reckoned his day at 30
miles.
In Pauthier's text again we find: "Sachiez que quand on est ale six
journees, apres ces trois que je vous ay dit," not having mentioned
trois at all "on treuve la cite de Quelifu." And on leaving Quelinfu:
"Sachiez que es autres trois journees oultre et plus xv. milles treuve
l'en une cite qui a nom Vuguen." This seems to mean from Cugui to
Kelinfu six days, and thence to Vuguen (or Unken) three and a half days
more. But evidently there has been bungling in the transcript, for the es
autre trois journees belongs to the same conception of the distance as
that in the G.T. Pauthier's text does not say how far it is from Unken to
Fuju. Ramusio makes six days to Kelinfu, three days more to Unguem, and
then 15 miles more to Fuju (which he has erroneously as Cugiu here,
though previously given right, Fugiu).
The latter scheme looks probable certainly, but the times in the G.T. are
quite admissible, if we suppose that water conveyance was adopted where
possible.
For assuming that Cugiu was Fortune's Chuchu at the western base of the
Bohea mountains (see note 3, ch. lxxix.), and that the traveller reached
Tsun-ngan-hien, in two marches, I see that from Tsin-tsun, near
Tsun-ngan-hien, Fortune says he could have reached Fu-chau in four days by
boat. Again Martini, speaking of the skill with which the Fo-kien boatmen
navigate the rocky rapids of the upper waters, says that even from
Pu-ch'eng the descent to the capital could be made in three days. So the
thing is quite possible, and the G. Text may be quite correct. (See
Fortune, II. 171-183 and 210; Mart. 110.) A party which recently made
the journey seem to have been six days from Hokeu to the Wu-e-shan and
then five and a half days by water (but in stormy weather) to Fu-chau.
(Chinese Recorder, as above.)
NOTE 8. - Pauthier supposes Unken, or Vuguen as he reads it, to be
Hukwan, one of the hiens under the immediate administration of Fu-chau
city. This cannot be, according to the lucid reading of the G.T., making
Unken 15 miles from the chief city.
